However, given that Montgomery is arguably the best coach/teacher in the Pac 10, Cal is likely to keep improving and win it all.

It is really impressive how Mike has gotten both Randle and Christopher to play defense and to get Christopher to rebound. Team defense should continue to improve.

Of course, a prediction of first in conference assumes that everyone in the eight man rotation (Randle, Christopher, Robertson, Boykin, Sander-Frison, big Max, Gutierrez, and Amoke) will stay healthy.

Also, perhaps Bak will begin to contribute as he gets bigger and more experienced over the season. He has shown flashes as a rebounder and shot blocker, and does not have a bad shot.

Smith may also become a factor at the point.

]]>By: Jacob Wanghttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2009/12/29/pac-10-basketball-projections-for-the-2009-10-conference-season/comment-page-1/#comment-31313
Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:58:42 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/?p=11159#comment-31313Can Larry Scott work with the NCAA to keep the stars around more than one year? What can he or the schools’ ADs do?
]]>By: Cardfanhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2009/12/29/pac-10-basketball-projections-for-the-2009-10-conference-season/comment-page-1/#comment-31307
Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:44:26 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/?p=11159#comment-31307This is just awful. Have you been watching the preseason???
]]>By: Kevinhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2009/12/29/pac-10-basketball-projections-for-the-2009-10-conference-season/comment-page-1/#comment-31306
Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:41:27 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/?p=11159#comment-31306How can you possibly pick UCLA 3rd? If you’ve watched them play, they are awful and really don’t have a lot of talent. I’m not a Stanford fan but they are also better than a last place team – I think Dawkins is doing a nice job working with what he has.
]]>By: uh ohhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2009/12/29/pac-10-basketball-projections-for-the-2009-10-conference-season/comment-page-1/#comment-31297
Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:31:36 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/?p=11159#comment-31297You know, if Cal’s Jamal Boykin had a reasonable teammate to help defend the post or to help keep big men off him, he’d be a candidate for pac-10 honors. The man can stick the mid-range jumper, can defend and rebound, and is very crafty around the basket with plenty of pump-fakes, step-unders, and wrap around lay-ins. Heck, I’m making him a candidate for honors anyways!
Go Jamal!
]]>By: bilbohttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2009/12/29/pac-10-basketball-projections-for-the-2009-10-conference-season/comment-page-1/#comment-31292
Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:02:47 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/?p=11159#comment-31292Wilner’s Top 25 poll reflects today, for Pac10 projection, he is saying where they end up. Give Jon some credit, his poll is a meritocracy, like it or not
]]>By: Esquire Joehttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2009/12/29/pac-10-basketball-projections-for-the-2009-10-conference-season/comment-page-1/#comment-31271
Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:03:11 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/?p=11159#comment-31271I’d definitely drop UCLA down to 6th (or worse) and put ASU up in 4th behind USC. Howland is a good coach, so you have to think they’ll win SOME games in the P10, but what have they shown in the pre-conference schedule to make anyone think they’ll even sniff .500 in conf play?

As a Cal alum and fan, I can’t argue that Washington has a slight edge on Cal overall, but it’s close. I think the games between the Bears and the Huskies this year are going to determine who wins the conference, and I think it’s going to come down to coaching. I don’t see Montgomery losing that battle.

Mr. Burns…I thought the same thing about Wilner’s comments which just don’t seem to jive with common sense?

I will suggest that the battle for the Pac-10 basketball season championship may/could/should be as “fluid” as what we saw in football. Though, I do believe that the Huskies and Bears are the two to beat…there will be several defeats for the champion…and the Pac-10 Tournament should be very wide open.

]]>By: Sandrahttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2009/12/29/pac-10-basketball-projections-for-the-2009-10-conference-season/comment-page-1/#comment-31265
Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:26:55 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/?p=11159#comment-31265You placed UCLA in third? Wow, you still are drinking the goo-goo juice aren’t you? They have looked downright awful at home and even worse away.

I am glad you admit that you are prepared for utter failure, but you didn’t need to go ahead and make sure it would happen…

]]>By: Broncobosshttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2009/12/29/pac-10-basketball-projections-for-the-2009-10-conference-season/comment-page-1/#comment-31264
Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:03:11 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/?p=11159#comment-31264I forgot to mention that USC basketball will probably face a series of NCAA violations so they probably won’t be much of a threat to the PAC10! Between USC Football & Basketball the NCAA violations Dept. has had open a new wing to store USC paperwork..
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